Cleveland Redevelopment Area

About the Area's (I-IV)

The four Cleveland Avenue redevelopment sub-areas were established in 1998 for the purposes of commercial redevelopment. The boundaries for this 3.5 mile stretch of Cleveland Avenue include approximately one block on either side of the road from Edison Avenue to the City limits at Page Field. Predominantly a commercial corridor, Cleveland Avenue serves as a major transportation corridor, carrying traffic north-south and providing connectivity for the Fort Myers-Cape Coral region. From a local perspective, Cleveland Avenue serves as a gateway to the City of Fort Myers and to the Downtown River District in particular.

After an extensive planning process which incorporated a high-level of public and stakeholder involvement, the 2010 Cleveland Avenue Plan was adopted on December 6, 2010. The main goals of the Plan were to improve the appearance of the corridor and to encourage private investment and quality redevelopment in the corridor. Improving the safety and comfort of the pedestrian realm is also identified as a priority.

On June 6, 2016, the 2010 Cleveland Avenue Redevelopment Plan - 2014 Update was adopted by City Council. In keeping with the overall goals and priority of the original 2010 Plan, the 2014 Update seeks to clarify and correct some aspects of the 2010 Cleveland Plan based on current information to further these goals and priority:

The long-term proposal in the 2010 Cleveland Plan to acquire 20 feet of additional right-of-way to accommodate an envisioned ultimate streetscape design is not practical, given the extent to which it would impact private property, The Update introduces an alternative concept for improvements within the existing right-of-way to attain the identified and adopted pedestrian realm improvement goals of the Plan.

Conditions and analysis incorporated into the Technical Memorandum supporting stormwater infrastructure improvement projects is being added to the Plan for continuity with data, analysis and public involvement that was conducted in support of the Plan,

The Update reflects demographic and property data accurate to 2010 or later for areas within the CRA boundaries.

The Update rounds out the available economic development tools available to the CRA within the four Cleveland sub-areas.